Plans to fire and rehire 2,700 teaching assistants on new contracts which will leave the majority out of pocket will go before politicians yet again next month.

Durham County Council is set to discuss issues raised through the consultation process at an extraordinary meeting on September 14.

Staff will be given new contracts which would see staff paid only for term time work and would result in the overall salary bill being cut by £3m.

Durham County Council has always said the move, which would see some staff facing pay cuts of up to 24%, is not a cost cutting exercise but is necessary to avoid potential unfair pay claims from other members of school staff who are only paid during term time.

Teaching assistant Megan Charlton said: “They’ve already shown that they can just rip up whatever is written in our contract.

“We are pushing for the regrading of all teaching assistants so that if we get a term time only contract we won’t be on less money."

She went on to claim: "We are on lower salary grades than teaching assistants in Darlington, South Shields and Northumberland.

“They keep saying it is not about money it is not about cost cutting, so they should be able to do that.”

Teaching Assistants protest at County Hall in Durham carrying a picture of the late Durham Miners leader Davey Hopper

Councillor Jane Brown, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for corporate services, said: “All but one council regionally and many nationally have already changed to term-time pay for teaching assistants.

“Our proposals are aimed at providing fairness and parity across our workforce and ensuring that teaching assistants, like other council employees, are paid only for the hours they actually work.

“We have a legal responsibility to resolve this matter and have been in discussions with the unions and teaching assistants for many months and throughout the consultation process.”

The teaching assistants won the backing of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and gathered much support at the Durham Miners’ Gala in July, where the Islington MP told the crowds the council needed to “get this thing sorted”.

Ms Charlton added: “The support that we have had and the pressure we’re putting on them politically has had a huge impact. Can Durham council continue to challenge the leadership of the part?”

She said: “I have asked the council if it has considered all the options and if it is possible to improve the offer.

“I do think because they are not the highest paid workers, they are on low income, we have to take great care to get the best compensation deal possible.”

She added: “I think it is important that teaching assistants know their elected representatives are fighting for a good deal. They need to know that they are appreciated. I go into schools a lot so I see the work they do, they need to know they are valued.”